Philadelphia Eagles Hold Off Washington Commanders For Week 1 Win
In 2021, Nick Sirianni’s first season opener as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles was a blowout. The Eagles dispatched the Atlanta Falcons by 26 points in Jalen Hurts’ first Week 1 as the starting quarterback, and DeVonta Smith shone in his NFL debut.
None of his next five starting games has been nearly as easy. All have been one-score games with an average margin of just four points. But they’ve all had one thing in common: a positive result for the Philadelphia faithful.
That feeling was in doubt for over 59 minutes on Sunday, with the Washington Commanders driving down the field trailing by eight. They made it across the goal line once — but not twice, as Moro Ojomo perfectly dissected Jayden Daniels’ shovel pass to deny a potential game-tying two-point conversion.
The Eagles hardly delivered a perfect performance on Sunday. But it’s always easier to correct after a win. Here are things the Eagles will need to adjust, as well as what has them 1-0 once again.
Philadelphia Eagles Week 1 Takeaways
Contributions from Newcomers
Of the three main new Eagles who played on Sunday, Dontavyion Wicks delivered the biggest moments. Philadelphia’s first offensive highlight-reel play came late in the first quarter when Jalen Hurts dropped a perfect ball down the right sideline that Wicks hauled in for a 64-yard gain. That helped set up the first of two The Eagles hardly delivered a perfect performance on Sunday. But it’s always easier to correct after a win. Here are things the Eagles will need to adjust, as well as what has them 1-0 once again. receiving scores, but Wicks got one of his own with a nifty move to the outside to haul in a nine-yard catch about halfway through the second quarter.
Sep 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) catches a pass for a touchdown against Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Riq Woolen didn’t have any plays as noteworthy as those two for Wicks, but he was part of an Eagles defense that largely kept the Commanders in check. Daniels was under 100 passing yards a few minutes into the fourth quarter as the Eagles’ secondary blanketed his pass catchers, even as Daniels used his legs effectively to buy time and pick up yards on scrambles. Woolen’s best play was covering a third-down deep shot to Dyami Brown in the first quarter that fell incomplete, with Woolen running stride for stride with his assignment.
Makai Lemon was much quieter than those two, which is more understandable considering this was his NFL debut and his preseason was disrupted by a hamstring injury. Of his three receptions, two went for negative yardage, although Lemon couldn’t have done anything to avoid the losses. He did make one huge play that won’t show up in the box score: an open-field block that helped Jalen Hurts convert a third-and-17 scramble in the fourth quarter. A first-round pick needs to do more than lay a good block to succeed, but it was a little-yet-huge play not every rookie can handle.
Hurts’ Big Plays
A big worry about the Eagles’ offense in life after A.J. Brown was their ability to make big plays. Brown’s physicality and soft hands made 50-50 balls feel like a mismatch against most defensive backs. That was a huge reason he averaged at least 16 yards per catch in two of his first three seasons in Philadelphia before a career-low 12.9 in 2025.
The Commanders allowed the fifth most passing yards last season, about 257 per game, so bigger tests lie ahead. But Hurts still made big throws when it mattered. After three straight three-and-outs to begin the second half, Hurts ensured there wouldn’t be a fourth by lofting a deep ball to DeVonta Smith, who made a spectacular toe-tap catch for 31 yards that set up a Jake Elliott field goal.
Both completions were outside the numbers, but Hurts also had a timely throw over the middle. It looked like the Eagles would have to settle for three on their third drive after a holding penalty at the Washington six-yard line. But on third and goal from the 17, Hurts led it right without hesitation to Goedert, who picked up where he left off in 2025 with prolific red zone production. He found Goedert down the middle again, 14 yards down the field on third and six in the fourth quarter, and Goedert spun away from the Washington secondary for the game-winning score.
Hurts didn’t have a perfect game, finishing 14-for-25 for 203 yards and three sacks. But he balanced being more aggressive over the middle while not putting the ball in harm’s way. He’s led the Eagles to all six of their Week 1 wins under Sirianni, and his ability to meet the moment showed up again at the start of this season.
Sep 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Run Game Unsettled
When Saquon Barkley pulled free down the right side of the field in the second quarter for a 42-yard scamper, it felt like a throwback to 2024. Or maybe early 2025, since the play felt similar to Barkley’s 60-yard touchdown run against Washington on the Eagles’ opening offensive play of the NFC Championship Game. Barkley had fewer than 42 rushing yards total in two games last season and three others where he finished below 50. Breaking off a long run like that this early in the season is a nice piece of belief in Sean Mannion’s new system.
However, it was an outlier. That carry accounted for over half of Barkley’s rushing yards Sunday evening; he rushed for 41 yards on his other 14 carries. Most concerning: he was hit behind the line of scrimmage on half of those chances. That, combined with a healthy share of penalties, made it an alarming start for the Eagles’ offensive line. Not a five-alarm fire level, but enough of an extension from how last season ended to raise an eyebrow.
Tank Bigsby was surprisingly invisible, with just a single carry. Hurts’ 46 rushing yards would’ve been his third-highest total in 2025, although it was almost entirely off scrambles. A tush push opportunity never materialized on Sunday, either. On the trio of three-and-outs to begin the second half, Hurts took two sacks, and the Eagles combined for -1 rushing yard on three handoffs. They possessed the ball for less than five minutes, which contributed to the defense running out of gas in the fourth quarter, and the Commanders nearly getting back to even on the scoreboard.
The Eagles won their first game without a strong ground game. Reaching the win totals Eagles fans have grown accustomed to, let alone the big game victories down the line, will require a stronger effort.
The Last Word
The Eagles and Commanders won’t meet again until Week 8 for their annual game in D.C. In the short picture, the Eagles head to Tennessee next to face the Titans, who were knocked off by the New York Jets, 23-10.
Speaking of New York teams, the Giants upset the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in John Harbaugh’s team debut. So, it’s the Eagles and Giants with the early division lead.
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